Obama praises actor Andy Griffith

President Obama issued a statement Tuesday paying tribute to Andy Griffith, the television legend who died Tuesday at age 86.

“Michelle and I were saddened to hear about the passing of Andy Griffith,” Mr. Obama said. “Our thoughts and prayers are with Andy’s family.”

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Mr. Griffith, who starred in “The Andy Griffith Show” and “Matlock,” gave the Obama administration a boost in 2010 when he appeared in a government ad touting Medicare benefits under the president’s new health-care law.

“Andy was beloved by generations of fans and revered by entertainers who followed in his footsteps,” the president said. “He brought us characters from Sheriff Andy Taylor to Ben Matlock, and in the process, warmed the hearts of Americans everywhere.”

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About the Author

Dave Boyer is a White House correspondent for The Washington Times. A native of Allentown, Pa., Boyer worked for the Philadelphia Inquirer from 2002 to 2011 and also has covered Congress for the Times. He is a graduate of Penn State University. Boyer can be reached at dboyer@washingtontimes.com.